Alexis Bates 
You might find it hard to believe, given my work, that I’d never been to New York City. Don’t worry, I’ve corrected this oversight and along the way I spent half a day in one of the most unique buildings I’ve ever set foot in, The Morgan Library. In a city of remarkable buildings, this … Read more
Back in May of 2005, which is, and this is true, more than twenty years ago, the Real ID Act was signed into law. Its intent was to create new, stricter standards for government IDs. These new standards for identification were originally to be implemented by 2008 but, states continued to ask for more time. … Read more
In the last year, we got a rather surprising bit of information about our website. Our site’s metrics for the last three months showed that our article on travel humidifiers gets significant traffic. I was surprised to learn this since, when I published it, it got very little traction. It seems, though, that in the … Read more
Christmas comes but once a year but boy does it announce itself. These days store start putting up their Christmas items in October and “All I Want For Christmas” seems to magically start playing at exactly 12:01 AM November 1st. Somehow, though, every year the holiday sneaks up on you and it gets filled up … Read more
If you’re a frequent traveler, you very likely have a frequent flyer account with one or more airlines. You likely have an airline that is the biggest player in your local market and you probably fly that the most. If you live near a hub for one of them that’s doubly true. For decades now, … Read more
If you’ve taken a cruise in the last decade, there’s no doubt you’ve seen the emails about bidding for an upgrade to your room. The chance to upgrade your travel experience for less than it costs to book those cabins outright is a very enticing opportunity, one that makes the bargain hunting, Midwesterner spirit glow … Read more
I travel frequently, as you likely know by now. I’m on a plane, bus, or train at least three or four times a month most of the year. Yet, I rarely get sick. I promise I don’t have some sort of exceptional immune system. The only things I do are follow a few simple tips … Read more
There’s very good, and very sensible, news from Virgin Voyages on their 2027 eclipse cruise in the Mediterranean. Until recently, on the day of the eclipse, the Virgin Voyages Resilient Lady had been scheduled to be in the port of Tangier. The updated itinerary puts the ship at sea for that day. This was a … Read more
Sprawling out along the high bluffs above the St. Lawrence River, this city has existed for more than 400 years. It’s the capital of the province of Quebec, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and home to fourteen Michelin Star restaurants. Knowing that, however, does not prepare you for the uniqueness of this proudly French-Canadian city. … Read more
I recently recounted my experience on Virgin Voyages newest ship, the Brilliant Lady. Part of the new ship is a brand-new restaurant. Just like Lucky Lotus, which I also wrote about, this new eatery is an altered experience from one of the onboard restaurants, Razzle Dazzle, which exists on both the Valiant and Resilient Ladies. … Read more
